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Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India (2001)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.9/10
Reviews Counted: 59
Fresh: 56 | Rotten: 3

Lagaan is lavish, rousing entertainment in the old-fashioned tradition of Hollywood musicals.

100

Average Rating: 7.9/10
Critic Reviews: 19
Fresh: 19 | Rotten: 0

Lagaan is lavish, rousing entertainment in the old-fashioned tradition of Hollywood musicals.

audience

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Average Rating: 4.2/5
User Ratings: 18,664

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Movie Info

One of the most expensive films ever to come out of Bollywood, Lagaan tells the tale of the Indian village Champaner, beset by drought and British colonialism in the year 1893. Without a drop of rain in months, the worried villagers of Champaner decide to ask the local authorities for a temporary repeal of their taxes -- the hated lagaan. Led by the heroic Bhuvan (Indian superstar Aamir Khan) they bring their plight to the military governor, Captain Russell (Paul Blackthorne). But the sadistic

PG, 3 hr. 45 min.

Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Art House & International, Comedy

Directed By: Ashutosh Gowariker

Written By: Ashutosh Gowariker, Sanjay Dayma, Kumar Dave

In Theaters: Jun 15, 2001 Wide

On DVD: Jan 22, 2002

B4U Entertainment

Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India Trailer & Photos

Cast

Aamir Khan
Bhuvan
Gracy Singh
Gauri
Rachel Shelley
Elizabeth
Paul Blackthorne
Captain Andrew Russell
Suhasini Mulay
Yashodamai
Kulbhushan Kharbanda
Rajah Puran Singh
Raghubir Yadav
Bhura
Rajendra Gupta
Mukhiya
Rajesh Vivek
Guran
Sri Vallabh Vyas
Ishwar
Javed Khan
Ramsingh
Raj Zutshi
Ismail
Akhilendra Mishra
Arjan
Pradeep Sing Rawat
Deva
Daya Shankar Pandey
Goli
Yashpal Sharma
Lakha
Amin Hajee
Bagha
Aditya Lakhia
Kachra
A.K. Hangal
Shambukaka
John Rowe
Col. Boyer
David Gant
Major Warren
Jeremy Child
Major Cotton
Ben Nealon
Lt. Smith
Anupam Shyam
Namdeo
Raja Awasthi
Ramprasad
Pramatesh Mehta
Harikaka
Bhim Vakani
Kazi
Amin Gazi
Tipu
Anu Ansari
Jigni
Parveen Bano
Kesarya
Chris England
Yardley
Howard Lee
Burton
Simon Holmes
Brooks
Ray Eves
Willis
Jon House
North
Neil Patrick Harris
Harrison
Jamie Whitby Coles
Wesson
Barry Hart
Benson
Alex Shirtcliff
Flynn

Critic Reviews for Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India

All Critics (60) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (61) | Rotten (3) | DVD (15)

An involving, easily digestible hunk of pure entertainment that could be the trigger for Bollywood's long-awaited crossover to non-ethnic markets.

July 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Derek Elley

Variety

Top Critic

Few recent American musicals are this fluid or engaging.

March 26, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Mark Peranson

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

After having seen this Cinemascope extravaganza in a theater, on DVD and video, I still think the big screen experience is worth it.

July 20, 2002 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune

| Comment

Monica Eng

Chicago Tribune

Top Critic

The most deliriously entertaining movie of the summer.

July 19, 2002 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee

| Comment

Joe Baltake

Sacramento Bee

Top Critic

An enormously entertaining movie, like nothing we've ever seen before, and yet completely familiar.

June 7, 2002 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

[I]t is long, but it never sags.

June 3, 2002 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper

| Comment

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

Will be the film all others in Bollywood are judged against, in terms of both creativity and success.

August 3, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

With an equally stunning soundtrack, this rollicking yarn is a must for all film lovers.

December 30, 2006 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

| Comment

Ian Nathan

Empire Magazine

The film's got a big scope and a big heart, even taking time to decry class, social, and racial discrimination.

July 22, 2004 Full Review Source: Window to the Movies

| Comment

Jeffrey Chen

Window to the Movies

A great big Bollywood musical, complete with song and dance and doomed love triangles and elegantly photographed men playing cricket. And it's terrific fun, in a way that only great big musical fantasies can be.

December 31, 2003 Full Review Source: Seattle Times

| Comment

Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

Sports fans will dig this film, and everybody else will at least enjoy it. It's worth renting.

February 25, 2003 Full Review Source: Needcoffee.com

| Comment

Widgett Walls

Needcoffee.com

A great introduction to the joys of Indian popular cinema.

January 21, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Threat

| Comment

Chris Baker

Film Threat

This is a lavish production that will remain a favourite for years to come.

October 30, 2002 Full Review Source: ViewLondon

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Nina Patel

ViewLondon

If you're in the mood for a Bollywood film, here's one for you.

October 21, 2002 Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan

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Jean Lowerison

San Diego Metropolitan

A skillfully made, good-natured movie.

September 18, 2002 Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com

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Eric D. Snider

EricDSnider.com

A good example of the 'masala' type of Indian filmmaking, where politics, romance, class consciousness and long musical numbers are stirred together in an entertaining stew.

September 13, 2002 Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer

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Lawrence Toppman

Charlotte Observer

So fascinating, you may not notice how much time has passed when the credits finally roll.

September 13, 2002 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star

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Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

There's no denying that when this film is good, it's very good.

August 2, 2002 Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City

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Jeff Vice

Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Even during the climactic hourlong cricket match, boredom never takes hold.

July 26, 2002 Full Review Source: Oregonian

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Marc Mohan

Oregonian

It works its magic with such exuberance and passion that the film's length becomes a part of its fun.

July 19, 2002 Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly

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F.X. Feeney

L.A. Weekly

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India

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For a movie which is SOOO GOOOD and beautifuly made - it will make you ignore the length as you will be immersed in this Bollywood epic. Aamir Kahn is one of Bollywoods' favourite sons as he stars and produces this epic - which stands as one of the best Bollywood movies to date.Set in the 1800's, in the midst of

July 28, 2006

Khris N

Super Reviewer

Moulin Rouge ripped this movie off. Wasn't bad, I suppose, but I admit I wasn't paying much attention to it.

March 10, 2008

Curtis Lilly

Super Reviewer

Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India Quotes

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1. Captain Andrew Russell: Eat the meat, your highness.
– Submitted by Haroon M (9 months ago)

Submit a Quote from 'Lagaan - Once Upon a Time in India'

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